At some point it was also used as a (probably less common than it is now) synonym for sex.
It was chosen to describe the non-physical concept we now call gender exactly because the original use to describe words doesn’t have anything to do with genitalia – and the intent was that “gender” would refer only to what’s between one’s ears and “sex” only to what’s between one’s legs.
I just want pile onto this yeah
Gender was originally used to describe words.
At some point it was also used as a (probably less common than it is now) synonym for sex.
It was chosen to describe the non-physical concept we now call gender exactly because the original use to describe words doesn’t have anything to do with genitalia – and the intent was that “gender” would refer only to what’s between one’s ears and “sex” only to what’s between one’s legs.